Portrait Quilt finished!

At last, after nearly a month, I have finished my quilt. Uh-huh, oh yes, it's true. Loads and loads of hand stitching. I machine stitched the background quilting though as I didn't fancy hand sewing all that! Anyway, here's the finished quilt. See how I have all those pretty red buttons in my arms? That's my latest passion that is, red buttons! :0)

Tomorrow I start on a challenge quilt for my web group The Fibre Pirates. I have sent a package to the coordinator in the US which contains lots of lovely scraps of fabric, ribbons, threads and beads. Yesterday I received a similar package from the States (from a mystery donor) and I have to see what I can make from it. When everyone is finished we get to find out who got our package and then we send the finished piece back to them. I'm really looking forward to making my 'thing' and I already know what I am going to do, but it has to remain a secret for now! So you won't get to see the progress I'm afraid. I'll have to report back when the challenge is over in two months time.